epigraph
Say it: EP-ih-graf /ˈɛpɪɡrɑːf/ · noun
What “epigraph” means
A short quotation at the start of a book or chapter.
More precisely: A short quotation placed at the start of a book or chapter.
Example: “The novel's epigraph, from Rilke, sets the tone perfectly.”
When to use it
When discussing the quotation that introduces a book or chapter, usually in literary study or publishing.
Similar words
inscription, motto, quotation
Where it comes from
Greek epigraphē, 'inscription'.
Quick check
Before a novel's first chapter, the author places a short quotation from an older poem. What is it called?
a dedication or an epigraph?
Show the answer
an epigraph
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